Jackson not fond of this absence

The Lakers’ pendulum of momentum swings back and forth, with Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Luke Walton providing consistent efforts in recent games.

Then there’s Kwame Brown, whose absence was singled out by Coach Phil Jackson as a central reason for the Lakers’ slump.

“The No. 1 thing is about Kwame being out,” Jackson said recently. “That says it all. We need him out there to play. If he’s not capable of playing for us, our chances are very slim to win. We’re getting hurt in there and we need a big guy in there to help us defend.”

Brown’s reputation has been nothing short of “6-foot-11 conundrum” since his arrival as the top pick in the 2001 NBA draft.

He fizzled with the Washington Wizards, was a part-time starter last season with the Lakers and was a headliner this season more for a cake-chucking episode than his consistent defensive play.

Now, more than ever, he is needed -- but he is also hurt, leading to Jackson’s quandary: He wants his center back, but he wants him back now, as in today against Phoenix.

“We’re taking odds on whether he’s going to play,” Jackson said with a slight hint of sarcasm. “Right now, most of us feel like it’s probably limited that he’ll be out there.”

Andrew Bynum continues to struggle, and opposing centers are noticing. Bynum has scored a total of six points in the last two games; the Clippers’ Chris Kaman had 17 points and 14 rebounds against the Lakers, and Seattle’s Chris Wilcox had 32 points and 18 rebounds.

Brown, who has been in and out of the lineup since sustaining a sprained ankle Dec. 31, understands the need to return.

“I definitely want to play,” he said. “I need to play so I can defend guys, especially so they don’t have 32 and 18 when they’re not supposed to.”

But the ankle, which was aggravated last week when Denver center Marcus Camby stepped on it, “still feels inflamed,” Brown said.

Brown isn’t an imposing shot blocker, but he uses his strength to muscle opponents out of their usual sweet spots in the post. Until his return, the Lakers might continue to be plundered in the paint.

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Brown, drafted out of high school four years before Bynum, thinks the 19-year-old has hit more of a mental roadblock than a physical wall.

“I don’t think it’s anything else but his confidence,” Brown said. “He had all sorts of confidence at the beginning of the season when I went out. I don’t know where that went. I don’t know what he’s got to do to get it back. It’s not his game, it’s his confidence. His defense, I don’t know what happened to that either.”

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Maligned guard Smush Parker, benched for the fourth quarter of the last two games, will start today against Phoenix, although Jackson won’t hesitate to go with someone else late in the game.

“I’ve done that a lot in my career, let guys ferret it out in the game and see who comes out of the game with a hot hand,” Jackson said.

“Smush has had pretty good success against this team and we look forward to having him have some opportunities [today] to help us out.”

Jackson wasn’t as enthused about Parker’s decisions to remain seated near the end of the bench during timeouts after he was pulled for good with 4:03 left in the third quarter Friday against Seattle.

Jackson said Parker reacted “about the way he always does -- he retreated.”

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Forward Vladimir Radmanovic is expected to return Thursday against the Clippers after missing 24 games because of a separated shoulder he sustained while snowboarding during the All-Star break. He was fined $500,000 by the Lakers for violating his contract.

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TODAY

vs. Phoenix, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 40-36, Suns 57-19.

Record vs. Suns -- 1-1.

Update -- The Suns recovered from a 92-85 loss to San Antonio with a 103-95 victory Friday against New Orleans.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com